HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) Maui district will begin repairs at Mala Ramp on March 17, 2014. The decision to begin construction was reached last night after a meeting between state boating officials and ramp users.

The repair project is expected to take approximately 60 days.

“We plan to keep this heavily used ramp open during the holiday season, to accommodate local fishers, who want to launch into the waters off western Maui when there’s an increase in demand for access and certain fish stocks,” said William J. Aila, DLNR chairperson. “We have assurances from our Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation that it is physically possible for the ramp and existing piers to remain open and usable until the repair project start date.”

Once the project begins, the facility will close completely while the $892,000 project to replace the facility’s two concrete loading docks is underway.